Further cover in the position is provided by Sale’s Cardiff-born England Under-20 star Sam Moore, who is present as an ‘apprentice player’ and had previously been on Wales’ radar.

No detailed prognosis is yet available as to how long Simmonds will be out while the Bath wing Anthony Watson will be assessed this week after limping off early in the second half of England’s 12-6 win at Twickenham.

The number eight has been omitted from the 32 players picked by Eddie Jones and it has been widely reported he is likely to miss the trip to Murrayfield on Saturday week.